# Thomas Van Imbroeck, The 5th Of May, In The Year 1558. · Page 5 of 6 [Previous page: THOMAS VAN IMBROECK, THE 5TH OF MAY, IN THE YEAR 1558.](/en/stories/mm-thomas-van-imbroeck-the-5th-of-may-in-the-year-1558/part-4/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: THOMAS VAN IMBROECK, THE 5TH OF MAY, IN THE YEAR 1558.](/en/stories/mm-thomas-van-imbroeck-the-5th-of-may-in-the-year-1558/part-6/) Hence be of good courage, and bring up your children in good manners, and in the fear of God, that their natural propensities may be mortified; and take an example from yourself, how you bring them up in their weakness, with great labor and trouble, and give the breast to them to whom the Lord has commanded milk to be given. You are also to give them the rod, according to the command of the Lord, when they transgress and are obstinate: for this is also food for the soul, and drives out the folly which is bound up in their hearts. Prov. 23:13,14. Remember the words of Sirach, where he says (Sir. 7:26): “Shew not thyself cheerful to thy daughter, nor laugh with her, lest she become bold against thee, and thou have to bear shame on her account in the end. But teach her the law of our God, that she may put her hope in the Almighty and Most High, and may never forget the benefits bestowed upon us through Christ. I also pray you, that they, as far as possible, be kept away from intractable children; do not allow them to run about in the streets, but keep them with you as much as possible, that you may have joy and sorrow with them; and forget not the kind of widow mentioned by Paul in his letter to Timothy (1 Tim. 5:4); but place your hope firmly in the Lord, and wait for him with patience. Now I understand that you would gladly die; but when I was still with you, and we lived together in peace, then life was no cross for you. Remember therefore now what I often told you, namely, that it is good for the believer to have tribulation and distress, that we may learn to say with Paul: “We groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this body, are burdened, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord, than to walk in his absence in much affliction.” 2 Cor. 5:2. Alas! friend, how few there are that say this; I mean among those who enjoy peace and rest. Therefore thank the Lord, that he has given this grace, and perhaps removed me from your sight for the best; for he is a jealous God; he will be loved the most, and have sole possession of the human heart. And you have also asked him to remove from your path everything that might be in the way of your salvation. Hence think that he is proving us both, and let us willingly take the yoke upon us, and count it all joy. Jas. 1:2. For what are the sufferings of this world? Nothing but a dream, as David says: “When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter.” Psalm 126:1. Thus it is with us as with a woman in travail; when the child is brought forth, she would not surrender it, because of the former pain. So also we, when we have been delivered from the child, we would not take the whole world for it. Hence take good heed, that you be not startled or frightened, that the child may be born in due time. Take food and nourishment from the husband Christ, that you may have strength for labor; and neglect not to receive the true food, the word of God. Remember Israel, who were satiated with bread from heaven. May the Lord give you a sound soul, and a fervent stomach of love, so that the food may be well digested. Amen. May the grace of the Lord be increased unto you, my dear wife. Be always subject to the godfearing, and associate with the pious, and pray God to keep me in the truth; for truth abides and is strong forever; it lives, and will forever prevail. Greet all the saints with the kiss of love, and all who love the Lord Jesus, and tell them to be kind; for God is the Hero and Captain, who so faithfully succors in time of need. He is like a shower upon the parched earth in a dry summer. Thus he refreshes the afflicted souls, that thirst for him; he is a shadow from the heat of the sun. Matt. 11:28; Is. 55:1; 25:4. Tell the brethren to take care of the novices, and to pray earnestly for me. I will also pray for them, as much as is in my power. Remember my bonds. The Lord be with your spirit. Amen. Your dear husband, Thomas van Imbroeck, imprisoned for the testimony of Jesus Christ. ## Original source [Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_559) [Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855) [Previous page: THOMAS VAN IMBROECK, THE 5TH OF MAY, IN THE YEAR 1558.](/en/stories/mm-thomas-van-imbroeck-the-5th-of-may-in-the-year-1558/part-4/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: THOMAS VAN IMBROECK, THE 5TH OF MAY, IN THE YEAR 1558.](/en/stories/mm-thomas-van-imbroeck-the-5th-of-may-in-the-year-1558/part-6/) --- Page: https://history.truechristian.church/en/stories/mm-thomas-van-imbroeck-the-5th-of-may-in-the-year-1558/part-5/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+Thomas+Van+Imbroeck%2C+The+5th+Of+May%2C+In+The+Year+1558.+%C2%B7+Page+5+of+6&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AThomas+Van+Imbroeck%2C+The+5th+Of+May%2C+In+The+Year+1558.+%C2%B7+Page+5+of+6%0A%0APage%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fen%2Fstories%2Fmm-thomas-van-imbroeck-the-5th-of-may-in-the-year-1558%2Fpart-5%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-thomas-van-imbroeck-the-5th-of-may-in-the-year-1558--b00075-o000000%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+1558%0A%0A%23%23+Correction+or+addition%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Sources+and+evidence%0APlease+include+book%2Fpage+references%2C+archive+links%2C+or+first-hand+documentation.%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Image+credit+%28if+applicable%29%0ACreator%2C+source%2C+and+permission+or+public-domain+basis.%0A%0A%0A%0ASubmitted+for+review%3B+this+issue+does+not+publish+changes+automatically.)